Hilary Mantel: 'I never patronise my readers'

As Hilary Mantel, the award-winning author, announces that stage adaptations
of her novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies will transfer to London, she
tells the Telegraph that modern authors should not talk down to readers

Hilary Mantel's books Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies have been adapted for the stagePhoto: David Rose

Modern authors should always assume their readers are "highly intelligent", the double Booker Prize-winner Hilary Mantel has said, as she hails the success of her novels and stage adaptation as "heartening".

Mantel, whose work has been adapted for the stage, said she refused to "talk down or patronise or condescend" readers, despite the difficult nature of her novels.

She announces today that stage adaptations of her bestselling novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies will transfer to London as a result of their popularity.

They will replace Andrew Lloyd Webber's Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre in May, after a disappointing start for the musical, based on the Profumo Affair.

Mantel, who is currently working on the third and final instalment of her Thomas Cromwell trilogy, said the unprecedented success of the works made her the "luckiest author in the world".

Speaking to the Telegraph, she hailed the popularity of her complex, lengthy novels and their adaptations as "heartening" in a world of perceived shorter attention spans.

The novels have sold three millions copies in the UK and US alone while the plays have been performed to sold-out audiences at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon since January.

The Royal Shakespeare Company productions will now transfer to London on May 1st, for a provisional season running until September 6th.

When asked about the success so far, and the response of audiences to the two hour 50 minute-long plays, Mantel said it was "heartening" in a society which often bemoans falling standards.

She said the "complexity in the books and the difficulty of the material" had been embraced by readers and theatre-goers, who gave their full attention to the world of the Tudor court.

When asked how she approached her original novels, which are 674 and 432 pages long respectively, she said: "There's no compromise in my books. I always assume my readers are highly intelligent and will give a good quality of attention to books.

"I don't talk down or patronise or condescend. If you get the reader to come with you, they will reward you.

"Speak in your own voice, write as well as you can. Don't tailor your work to a perceived market. A reader quickly detects condescension.

"The best advice I can give is to be true to your ambition and allow the quality of your voice to emerge. That applies equally to writing plays."

The novels were adapted for the stage by Mike Poulton and directed by Jeremy Herrin, with actor Ben Miles starring as Cromwell.

Speaking of the transfer to London, Mantel said: "I am, I think, currently the luckiest author in the world.

"When my novel Wolf Hall was published in 2009, it was awarded a Man Booker prize and brought me a legion of keen readers worldwide. Its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies, won a second Man Booker and the Costa prize. Could life get better?

"To walk into a theatre where every seat is taken is a special experience. Now we have the chance to bring the plays to a wider audience."

Poulton added: "Hilary and I have been at work on Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies for over three years and we're still at it. It has been an extremely happy and close collaboration.

"Tickets for the Stratford run sold like wildfire – which was humbling. The London transfer is a relief to us all. And for me the Aldwych is the perfect theatre because of all its connections with the RSC – it feels like coming home."

Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies will move to the new home of the Aldwych Theatre, London, on May 1. Tickets are on sale to the general public from Monday, March 10.